Fenerbahce will not sell reported Liverpool and Leeds United target Ozan Tufan for a penny less than £18 million, Super Lig president Ali Koc told Fanatik.
A barrel-chested midfielder once compared to the legendary Yaya Toure was in no mood to play down how he felt about a potential move to the Premier League during the March international break.
Liverpool scouted Tufan during Turkey’s 3-0 victory over Norway two months ago and they certainly picked the right time to watch him in the flesh.
The late-blooming play-maker scored two brilliant goals in that game; a brilliant volley the pick of his ten goals for club and country during a career-best 2020/21 campaign.
At full-time, Tufan jumped at the chance to raise a rather suggestive eyebrow in Liverpool’s direction.
“Of course, like every football player, my dream is to prove myself abroad and represent my country there. The place I want to play is the English Premier League,” he said.
“I want to see myself there. I hope this happens as soon as possible.”
Tufan may be in luck.
Fotomac reported earlier in May that Tufan has admirers on the blue half of Merseyside too, with Everton joining Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United in the race.
The 26-year-old won’t come cheap, however, with Fenerbahce demanding a fee that would see Tufan replace one-time Real Madrid ace Elvir Baljic as the club’s most expensive ever export.
“We do not sell. The price of his release is the one who brings 20 million euros (£18 million),” Ali Koc said.
Out of Leeds, Liverpool and Everton, there is certainly an argument to be made that it is Jurgen Klopp who needs Tufan the most.
Gini Wijnaldum’s heart-wrenching departure means a space has suddenly opened up for a versatile, technically gifted, box-to-box midfielder and Tufan would certainly fit the bill.
He might have hit double figures for the first time this season, but Tufan is also more than comfortable in a more defensively-minded role, filling in at right-back on a number of occasions.
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